Archive

Can “The Hustlers” garner the mass appeal of “Pawn Stars” or “The Deadliest Catch?” Will Jennifer Barretta gain the notoriety of a Kardashian or a Braxton? Is Mike Dechaine pool’s version of Gordon Ramsay? The answers to those and other questions will begin to take shape after TruTv’s new pool-focused reality show debuts Friday, March 22, at 9:00 pm EST.

The 10-episode first season of “The Hustlers” follows a troupe of players of various skill levels as they play for money and jockey for hierarchical standing at Steinway Billiards, one of New York City’s busiest poolrooms. Pros Mike Dechaine and Jennifer Barretta are among the central characters in the series, which also features self-appointed ringleader William Finnegan, Boston player Jarrod Clowery and locals Gregg McAndrews, Emily Duddy, Scott Simonetti and Gary O’Callaghan.

“The Hustlers” was produced by reality TV powerhouse Pilgrim Studios. The episodes were taped at Steinway over a 10-week period this spring.

Battle Of The Sexes – Finn goes up against Emily in an epic 9-ball battle royale.

With the well-documented success of the Mosconi Cup and the emergence of the Queens Cup, it was only a matter of time before international team clashes reached the junior ranks.

Enter the Atlantic Challenge Cup, an event recently announced by the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) and the European Pocket Billiard Federation (EPBF). As with the Mosconi Cup, which pits players from the United States against a team of European stars, the Atlantic Challenge Cup will be a transatlantic clash. Four boys and two girls will represent Team USA and Team Europe at the inaugural Challenge, which will take place July 1-4, in Rankweil, Austria. Players must be 19 or younger.

“The future of the game lies in our ability to develop tomorrow’s players,” said BCA Chairman Mike Serra. “The prestige of competing in an event of this magnitude will further promote the game to today’s youth.”

Europe, through the EPBF, already enjoys a strong youth program, and EPBF officials suspect the addition of the Atlantic Challenge Cup will further fuel the efforts.

“We expect the desire from the players wanting to be included into the team will be very strong and will further increase the standard within pool,” said EPBF President Gre Leenders. A seven-person committee, chaired by longtime instructor and referee Rick Doner, was assigned by the Billiard Education Foundation to select the U.S. squad The committee included players Jeanette Lee, Johnny Archer and Laura Smith, along with instructor Randy Goettlicher, instructional author Phil Capelle and longtime tournament director Earl Munson, who will also serve as coach and captain for Team USA. The BCA was expected to announce the Team USA members on May 4.

Meanwhile, the EPBF announced its roster, which will include Germany’s Joshua Filler and Raphael Wall, each of whom earned a pair of gold medals at the 2014 Youth European Championships. Maxim Dudanets of Russia, currently ranked 34th on the Euro Tour, will also participate, as will Sweden’s Daniel Tanguud. Youth Euro Championships silver medalist Marharyta Fefilava of Belarus and youth 8-ball champion Kristina Tkach of Russia will round out the squad.

While details have yet to be determined, the four-day event is expected to be a race to 11.

In an effort to quell player concerns and secure critical sanctioning from the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA), U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships promoter Barry Behrman has come to an agreement with Accu-Stats and its owner, Pat Fleming, to allow Fleming to collect all entry fees and added monies for the 2015 event. Fleming will also be in charge of distributing prize money once players are eliminated from the tournament.

Behrman and Fleming announced the new arrangement in separate press releases March 18. The 2015 U.S. Open is scheduled for Oct. 23-30, at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel in Norfolk, Va.

“Pat [Fleming] has opened a U.S. Open Bank of America escrow account and will collect the $75,000 added funds prior to mid-July, as well as all players’ entry fees, which will be used to pay through 48th place,” said Behrman in his release.

According to Fleming’s Accu-Stats release, Behrman has until July 23, 2015, to deposit the $75,000 in added money. The total purse (player entries are $1,000) is projected to be $188,000. According to the release, Accu-Stats and Pat Fleming are the only persons on the Bank of America account authorized to receive entry fees and sign prize money checks.

The announcements should have a calming effect on players considering participation in the tournament. Behrman has a history (including 2014) of failing to pay cashing players at the end of the tournament, often having to pay players in installments over a period of months following the event. Fleming, a former pro player and Billiard Congress of America Hall of Famer, is well respected by both the players and industry members. His Accu-Stats video company has covered the U.S. Open for more than 30 years, and in recent years has offered both live streaming from the event and edited shows for distribution around the world.

While the WPA has not stated it publically, it is thought by most with knowledge of the situation that the world governing body would not have granted sanctioning to the U.S. Open if Behrman had been solely responsible for the distribution of the prize fund in 2015. WPA sanctioning means players earn world points, making them eligible for other WPA-sanctioned events and world championships. With $75,000 added, the U.S. Open would qualify as a Tier 2 event by the WPA, earning players more points for higher finishes. The U.S. Open is also slated as the final points event for players hoping to qualify for Team USA and Team Europe in the 2015 Mosconi Cup. “It is really good news all around,” said Darren Appleton, two-time U.S. Open champion and a player who travels to most big international events. “The players were losing faith, and the loss of the WPA sanction would have meant 50 percent of the players from Europe and Asia would not have come over. Now, with the money safe and the WPA points, all the foreign players will show up. Pat Fleming rescued the U.S. Open. We need the U.S. Open. It’s a prestigious event.”

After making “some of the roughest telephone calls I’ve ever had to make,” Team USA captain Mark Wilson announced his five-man team for the 21st Mosconi Cup, scheduled for Dec. 1-4, in Blackpool, England. The squad features a mixture of veteran players and youth.

Not surprisingly, newly minted U.S. Open 9-Ball champion Shane Van Boening will lead the U.S. squad, which has dropped four Mosconi Cups in a row (and six of seven) to Team Europe. The 31-year-old Van Boening will play in his eighth Cup, and will be joined by Cup veterans Corey Deuel, also making his eighth appearance, and John Schmidt, who played in 2006 in Rotterdam. Making their Mosconi Cup debuts will be 27-year-old Justin Bergman of Fairview Heights, Ill., and 26-year-old Justin Hall of Palm Harbor, Fla.

The “tough calls” Wilson made were to Brandon Shuff, Oscar Dominguez and Jeremy Sossei, who have been offered coaching positions in Blackpool. Dominguez and Shuff have each participated in one Mosconi Cup, with Dominguez being a member of the last U.S. team to win the title, in 2009.

“This represents a new era for Team USA,” said Wilson, who was named captain by Matchroom Sport in January, just a month after Team USA was humiliated by Team Europe, 12-2, in Las Vegas. “And I’m counting on these players to be leaders. “The final decisions were difficult,” Wilson added. “Every player put a lot of time and effort into their game over the past nine months. And they all represented the sport and the U.S. well during that time. There were a few close calls, but I’m confident in these picks. It was a pretty thorough process.”

According to Wilson, the three players left off the final squad were asked to travel with the team to England, expense-paid, to assist during the event. “This won’t be a holiday,” Wilson added. “Each player will be assigned special duties, setting up little refresher drills for the team before each round.” Wilson said the duties include an Offensive Coordinator, a Defensive Coordinator (to work on safeties and kick shots) and Specialty Shots Coordinator (for breaking and elevated cue shots).
“I will have drills for the players to work on,” said Wilson, “and the coaches will help the players run through the drills.”

According to Wilson, the team will meet in St. Louis, Nov. 20-21, for intensive practice sessions at Lindenwood University, where Wilson coaches the billiards program. The team will participate in Mosconi Cup-style match play at Starship Billiards in Decatur, Ill., the following two days. After several more days of practice in St. Louis, the team will share a Thanksgiving dinner, before leaving for Blackpool on Friday, Nov. 28. “I feel great about Team USA,” Wilson said. “I’m ready to go to war with these guys.”

One year after missing induction into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame by two votes in a special run-off against Jeanette Lee, Finland’s Mika Immonen overwhelmed the 2014 field to earn his spot in the sport’s hallowed hall, according to the United States Billiard Media Association (USBMA). Two-time world champion Immonen, 41, will be joined by 65-year-old Jose Parica, the leader of the “Philippines Invasion,” who was added to the ballot under recommendation from the Veterans Committee.

Born in London, raised in Helsinki, Immonen was Europe’s No. 1-ranked played at age 20. But his career really took off after he moved to New York City in 2000. He won the WPA World Pool Championship in 2001, back-to-back U.S. Open 9-Ball Championships titles (2008, 2009) and the World 10-Ball Championship (2009). During the 2000s, Immonen won 10 U.S. pro titles, and numerous international events.

Parica was the first top player from the Philippines to come to the U.S., when he entered the World Straight Pool Championship in 1978, six years before the arrival of Efren Reyes. He won his first U.S. pro title in 1986 (the Clyde Childress Open). After several years away from the game, Parica returned to win two Camel Pro Billiard Series titles in 1997, and was the tour’s top points-earner and Player of the Year.

Immonen and Parica will be formally inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 17, at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Va.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Immonen, upon hearing the news. “You never really believe it until it’s real. Last year was interesting, obviously. But I’m a little beside myself right now. I’ve got goose bumps.”

“Everything went really well,” said a fatigued but upbeat Kelly Fisher, from her hospital bed in the Intensive Care Unit at Golden Jubilee National Hospital near Glasgow, in the United Kingdom. “The doctors were over the moon. They said it couldn’t have gone better.”

Fisher, ranked second in the world by the World Pool-Billiard Association and the sixth-ranked player on the Women’s Professional Billiards Association tour, underwent surgery on July 22 to repair an atrial septal defect, also known as a “hole in the heart.” While a congenital defect, the 35-year-old Fisher had not experienced any severe problems until recently.

“I’d been bothered with a palpitation for many years,” Fisher said a week prior to the surgery, “but was told in 2009 that it was just a heart murmur, and that I had nothing to worry about.”

Fisher said she noticed that the palpitations were becoming more frequent in the past year, so she scheduled a doctor’s appointment in early March, following the Amway Cup in Taiwan (where Fisher finished second to Yu-Chieh Chou). Following tests at her local hospital in Dumfries, Scotland, Fisher was referred to Golden Jubilee in Dunbartonshire. An MRI and further tests discovered the congenital defect, which showed damage to a valve and a dilation of the right side of her heart.

“I was very lucky that it was found now,” Fisher said, “before it caused any permanent damage to my heart.”

A full recovery is expected to take three months, but Fisher said she hopes to shave a few weeks of the recovery time to participate in the Women’s World 9-Ball Championship in Guilin, China in mid-October.

“The doctors and staff were fantastic in my preparation for the operation,” said Fisher, who was expected to be out of ICU less than 48 hours after surgery. “I was off the ventilator very quickly. With plenty of rest and physio, recovery should be good. My goal is to be fit and ready for the 9-ball world championships.”

Press Release

June 2, 2014 (Englewood, CO): ​This year’s BEF Junior National 9-Ball Championships plans to be a real treat for all attendees as “The Black Widow” Jeanette Lee, the most recognized face in billiards, plans to speak at the event’s luncheon on June 24th in Louisville, Kentucky in conjunction with the BCA Summit.

“I’ve always had a passion for kids and I’m so honored to speak at this year’s Junior Nationals. I’ve watched and supported the Billiard Education Foundation throughout my career and I love the work they do and the commitment they make for our kids. I can’t wait to be there to share some time with the future champions of our sport!” said Lee.

Lee has been working hard to organize the Black Widow Juniors Camp designed for young intermediate to advanced level players age 14-18. Though the camp has been postponed until 2015, it has not stopped her from promoting youth in billiards.

There are still spots available in all four age divisions at this year’s junior nationals. If you’re interested in participating in the tournament or if you’re interested in attending this year’s banquet, contact executive director Samm Diep-Vidal at (303) 926-1039 or visit the website at billiardeducation.org.

The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) was formed in 1993 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity committed to promoting a lifelong love of pool and building the next generation of players through youth programs and academic scholarships. Visit billiardeducation.org or call (303) 926-1039 to learn more about junior billiard programs in your area.

May 23, 2014 (Englewood, CO): ​ The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) is proud to announce Falcon Cues and Presidential Billiards as the official shirt sponsors at this year’s BEF Junior National 9-Ball Championships.

The top billiard student-athletes from across the nation will arrive in Louisville, Kentucky June 24-27 for their chance at becoming the national champion of their age division (18 & Under Boys, 18 & Under Girls, 14 & Under Boys, 14 & Under Girls). With the support of Falcon Cues and Presidential Billiards, these players will be outfitted with custom event polo shirts.

Falcon Cues will also be awarding the winners of each of the four divisions with prize packages retail valued at $500. “Falcon Cues is a strong believer in billiards at a young age and the BEF’s efforts. We are proud to support the BEF however we can,” said Chris Kuntz, V.P. of RAM Gameroom, official North American distributor of Falcon Cues.

Falcon Cues Ltd are now entering into its 18th year in business and we continue to manufacture professional standard, high quality pool cues at an affordable prices, because we believe that all pool enthusiasts should have the chance to play with a real pool cue. Visit falconcues.com for more information.

Presidential’s billiard tables represent accuracy, beauty, and stability worthy of our high quality product. Presidential Billiards offers a variety of fine products including a large selection of pool tables and game room furniture encompassing models from entry level to heirloom quality and featuring exotic hardwoods and hand carving. Visit presidentialbilliards.com for more information.

The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) was formed in 1993 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity committed to promoting a lifelong love of pool and building the next generation of players through youth programs and academic scholarships. Visit billiardeducation.org or call (303) 926-1039 to learn more about junior billiard programs in your area.

May 23, 2014 (Englewood, CO): ​With this year’s BEF Junior National 9-Ball Championships fast approaching, OB Cues, Tiger Billiard Products, and Seyberts have all joined the family of BEF supporters to help make the event possible.

Be sure to stop by their booths at the upcoming BCA Summit June 24-27 in Louisville, Kentucky where this year’s Junior Nationals will be held.

In exchange for their generous contributions, these companies will receive a half-page color ad and company overview in the event program, a one-year subscription to any of the major billiard publications, along with corporate logo and link on the BEF and affiliate websites. Various other sponsorship levels are also available.

Their support enables the BEF to direct more funds to their youth billiard programs and academic scholarships. Find out about all the ways your business can get involved by visiting billiardeducation.org.

The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) was formed in 1993 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity committed to promoting a lifelong love of pool and building the next generation of players through youth programs and academic scholarships. Visit billiardeducation.org or call (303) 926-1039 to learn more about junior billiard programs in your area.

May 23, 2014 (Englewood, CO): A J. Pechauer Custom Cue and case valued at $1,700 will be awarded to one lucky winner this year. The reputable cue builder is graciously donating one of their Professional Series Cues with a Crown Jewel Inlaid shaft (view it at http://billiardeducation.org/2014-pechauer-cue/). Individuals will receive a chance at this collectible cue for every $10 donation made to the Billiard Education Foundation.

J. Pechauer Custom Cues is no stranger to supporting the juniors. For the past few years, the business has selected two young players each year to sponsor. “I started playing pool when I was 5 years old. The only competitive opportunities I had when I was growing up were local tournaments that were filled with primarily adults. I think that it is great to have an organization like the BEF that gives young players an opportunity to compete against their own peers. J. Pechauer Custom Cues is proud to be a part of the group of sponsors that supports the BEF and the Junior National 9-Ball Championships,” said Pechauer.

J. Pechauer Custom Cues are 100% American made in Green Bay, Wisconsin. To learn more about their playing, jump, and break cues, visit their website at www.pechauer.com.

The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) was formed in 1993 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity committed to promoting a lifelong love of pool and building the next generation of players through youth programs and academic scholarships. Visit billiardeducation.org or call (303) 926-1039 to learn more about junior billiard programs in your area.